i'm a pixel here, myself

So as to my [previous post on the topic], I think I've finally figured out *some* of what's going on with my seeming inability to match pitch/tuning with bandom bands: autotune. Because I'm not in any situations where it's used, I always forget about it, but it turns out that after a little Googling and some careful listening, I can definitely pick out autotune artifacts on... well, just about everything. It's a lot easier to go for a note when you know the computer is going to fix it in post-production if you don't nail it right on. And I'd be willing to bet a nontrivial amount of money that these bands are all traveling with at least one autotuner for their live shows -- yes, pitch correction can be done live, on-the-fly. I would love to hear the difference between a very early live performance by any of these singers (back when they were dirt-poor and couldn't afford things like autotuners) and their current live shows, which are more technical and polished. Of course, part of that is the intervening time they've had to just get better at what they do, but I suspect autotune is involved.

It doesn't mean I respect them any less: if I were going to put out an album in the current market, I would want my stuff to all be pitch-perfect because everyone else's records are, too. And for live shows, well, it's damn hard to be "on" all the time, you know? Especially with the insane amount of energy onstage -- the tendency is to go sharp all over the place, or reach for notes you wouldn't normally go for and fall a bit short. There are a zillion YouTube clips from the recorded Panic show in Denver (while touring for AFYCSO), and I can hear autotune in every single one. It's harder for MCR to get away with it live, I'd guess, because the harshness of the voice during a scream is hard to tune, but since live it's all on-the-fly anyway, I'd bet there's at least some of that going on. And I know I've heard autotune in FOB music, even though Patrick has one of the best voices out there; it's all a matter of making sure you're perfect before you go to market.

Ahh, the music biz.